The research institutions are one of the clear indicators of development a country. The Center of Desert Studies was established in 2005 at the University of Anbar. It is one of the important centers of the University of Anbar seeking to achieve its objectives at the local and global levels through conducting studies and research on the development of desert areas.
The center has four scientific departments:
1. Department of Combat Desertification.
2. Department of Desert Geology.
3. Department of Desert Development.
4. Department of Conservative Agriculture.
The center's work is managed by a board of directors composed of the director of the center and the heads of the scientific departments in the center, and the director of agriculture, the director of water resources and the director of the environment.
The center publishes a scientific journal under the title: The Iraqi Journal of Desert Studies. The journal is specialized in publishing scientific researches in all fields related to desert studies. It publishes two volumes annually. A research is published in two languages Arabic and English.
The center carried out a number of research projects and applied to the study of the desert environment in cooperation with the specialized agencies, and works constantly on the development of technical and research capabilities.
The most important areas of concerns related to achieving the objectives of the center are to: desert ecosystems, drought resistance, dust storms and environmental pollution, climate change and early warning of climate disasters, balancing environment and environmental tourism, natural resources in the desert, development and protection of forests and afforestation, natural pastures management and maintenance, fodder crops, acclimatization imported plants and animals in the desert conditions, inventory and assessment of native wild plants, take advantage of the desert animals, genetic improvement of native flora and fauna and the protection of genetic assets Innate and biodiversity, dry land areas, methods of water supply and water policies to achieve water security, the use of modern techniques in studies and researches, especially remote sensing techniques and geographic information systems, social life in the desert, economic studies on patterns of exploitation and agricultural production in the desert.
Email: ce.desert.studies@uoanbar.edu.iq